Frank Templeton -
15/05/2018

Our Review

Vauxhall Vivaro LWB 2.0CDTi [115PS] Euro 5 Sportive Van Review

Vauxhall may not have realised it at the time, but when they designed the Vivaro van they were doing something rather clever. Because they created a unique product for a growing number of small – and large - businesses that wanted to project a stylish, upmarket image yet have a need for commercial vehicles. And when it comes to style and panache, no other panel van can come close to the Vauxhall Vivaro Sportive. So, while the Sportive will only ever be a niche vehicle mainly chosen by owner/drivers, nevertheless some will be bought with company cash. And what’s more, it’s made in the UK.

At a glance

It’s hard to believe that this futuristic van shape is now 12 years old. It stood out from the crowd back then and it still looks stylish today. That’s mainly down to the distinctive streamlined profile that runs at a rakish angle from the radiator grille, across the bonnet and up the windscreen into a ‘bubble-topped’ cab. The van was given a make-over in 2006 that included new profiled front and rear bumpers and a revised ‘Griffin’ logo in a new bolder V shaped, chrome finished grille. New headlight units were added, with integral indicators as opposed to the separate units previously fitted in the bumpers, while the rear light clusters have benefited from fashionable clear lenses as opposed to the previous ‘smoked’ finish. Smart alloy wheels add the finishing touch. The result is an unusual but smart looking van which should keep its looks thanks to the plastic mouldings. In addition to the plastic bumpers front and rear, there are plastic guards along its flanks and shrouding the high-up rear light clusters. Engines and spec.

The Vivaro slots in just below the Movano in the Vauxhall van line-up and is the manufacturer’s answer to the shorter and lower versions of the Ford Transit. Similarly, the most popular version is a panel van, available in short or long wheelbase forms. But other body styles are on offer including a 12-seat minibus, double cab and a low deck drop-side.

Powering our Vivaro test vehicle was the 2.0-litre common-rail diesel engine, with the option of 90bhp or 115bhp outputs. Plus, at launch the Vivaro was one of the first vans to be fitted with a six-speed gearbox as standard. This helps to deliver low fuel consumption, although it’s possible to boost economy further by choosing a Vivaro ecoFLEX. These models use green tweaks such as low-rolling-resistance tyres, longer gear ratios and optimised aerodynamics – plus an optional speed limiter – to deliver up to 42.7mpg economy.

At the wheel

Little has changed inside the Vivaro cab since the vehicle was launched and perhaps that’s down to the fact that it was so good in the first place. The instrument lay out and their visibility in bright sun light is good and everything seems logically laid-out and where you’d expect to find it in a van. If there is a niggle, then leg room and shoulder room are a bit tight for the larger figure although the range of adjustment in the driver’s seat is among the best in class. The test vehicle also had the optional driver’s seat and single passenger seat, as opposed to the standard two-seater passenger bench, which had the effect of creating more room for two burly blokes. The glove box is also a bit on the shallow side, although it has a deep pocket above it, while there is another handy A4-sized slot above the main central radio panel that’s ideal for storing the all-important driver’s clipboard. The top of the dashboard is steeply raked, like the windscreen, so nothing can be placed on it without it sliding down against the glass and covering the air vents. For eating out (in lay-bys!) there are a couple of ‘stepped’ can holders at each end of the dash which are ideal for cans and Styrofoam cups, though they don’t hold 500 ml bottles securely. There is also a curry hook on the left side of the dash, which may not sound too important at first. But the next time you buy a takeaway – curry or otherwise – and try transporting it home without this particular item, it can become very important indeed!

The Vivaro remains competitive in terms of dimensions, as well as payload, with even the SWB version capable of carrying a heavier load than short-wheelbase versions of its competitors.

On the road

Vauxhall’s Vivaro has been using the 2.0-litre diesel to power the van since the 2006 face-lift and it provides good performance. Owners who regularly do motorway work or drive the van fully laden will find the 115bhp version we tested a better choice than the 90bhp engine, though. Refinement is decent whichever you go for, and the six-speed gearbox helps to keep noise to a minimum when cruising.

Handling is crisp and clean, allowing for some pretty nifty work on the corners. It’s no exaggeration to say that you could sometimes forget you’re in a van and driving a big car. In fact, this must be one of the best riding vans on the road, whether running empty or loaded. No doubt that is down to the independent front suspension with McPherson struts and the semi-independent rear end with trailing arms and load-adaptable shock absorbers. The power steering is not too strong either, offering a decent bit of feedback when at speed or manoeuvring. Enhancing the whole package is the comfortable seat and pretty good driving position. Overall, the Vivaro handles well, with good ride quality either laden or unladen, and it's a comfortable van to drive for long distances.

Our Verdict

A week with this van and I really did not want to give it back. It’s fast, it’s feisty and it’s fun. It will turn heads and should retain a high percentage of its original price at selling time as long as it is well maintained and kept in good condition. On the plus side, the Vivaro is designed with the driver in mind in that it is quiet, practical, has lots of storage space in the cab and the cargo load area in the rear is also well laid out and spacious. There are very few ‘cons’ worth mentioning, other than that the cabin can be a little tight for the fuller figure, the overwhelming grey-ness of the dashboard and centre console could have done with a cosmetic make-over and how to tune the radio still remains a mystery to me!

Our man with a van

Motoring journalist Adrian Foster has been commissioned to write impartial van and pick up reviews for our website, specifically to help with your decision making process. We have provided him with a van and the spec and nothing more, so you can rely on his views being real and honest.

Adrian began his career in the motor retail industry with Perry’s Group before turning his hand to motoring journalism. He launched the Drivelines motoring press agency as a means of providing high quality journalism on new cars, commercial vehicles, motorsport and the motor industry at large.

its a bit early to rate it yet. one disappointment was a plastic cover in the back that hides the electrics came loose on the first day. waiting to hear from Vanarama as to where to take it to get it fixed.

The van is great for the work I do , I can get all my tools in there and know it's not a struggle! I think both vanarama and clients would benefit from being offered extras on the van e.g , seat covers, trim covers(rear bumpers) , paint protection as these will protect the van from daily workloads especially in my trade ...... Had to get these done after receiving the van . But generally really happy with both the van and the service from vanarama just hope if there is ever a problem the service level is still great 😀

Having had the old type vivaro, this new model knocks spots off it for comfort and practicality. The turning circle is still very short for doing a turn in the road or tight junctions. The eco is a good addition because without the vehical is a tad thirsty. I like the extra storage under the seats provided and small niche's dotted about. Overall I love the vehical though

I really am over the moon with my new van. I've been using the vehicle for a couple of months now and I could not be happier. Customers and strangers alike have complimented the van on several occasions, telling me how smart and professional it looks. I still look forward to driving it everyday and feel that customers feel more at ease with me when I arrive in a brand new signwritten van, and I am certain that it plays a factor in securing work, particularly when dealing with large commercial contracts.

Very good. Lots of thought gone into making details such as the fold down seat etc in cab. Shame the lights in the back are still rubbish, will have to buy and fit some aftermarket LED lights if I want to be able to find anything in the dark.

Can't comment on reliability or running costs have only had van for a week. But after coming from a 13 year old Renault Trafic this is a pleasure to drive with nice extras which add comfort and convenience.

Very comfortable and well thought out vehicle, to drive is very easy. I do the school runs and then go to work so it's great the cab is just like being in a car and with it being a LWB the back has loads of room for all my equipment!

Having had previously a ten year old large van which was slow and in need of an update, to drive the Vivaro is like driving a performance car, really pleased so far with every thing about the van, in particular build quality and performance. I can't fault Vanarama really pleased with the service they provide.

It could do with an arm rest that doesn't gather dirt and dust as much, some more storage on the dash and slightly bigger buttons on the radio as I have to really push them to get them to work. The door handles on the outside are quite stiff and sticky, but a very nice cab and nice to drive.

This to me is the most practical and economical van of this range on the market. Really happy with the mpg I am getting and its so comfortable to drive. Mostly have 'eco mode' switched on for driving around town, but turn it off and the van has a decent bit of power when needed.

Transit Custom Limited beats this in every department EXCEPT mpg. 30-32mpg as opposed to 38mpg ave. Everything seems cheaper on this and it has annoying alarms going off for different things and doors that don't unlock unless you press button several times. Stop/start doesn't like fast clutch/gear movements. You end up stopped at traffic lights for a few seconds while trying to encourage the engine to start. Radio changes in tone randomly now and then so it's booked in at the garage. Not had it long enough to comment about reliability. But I hired this for the mpg and it's doing well with that.

Only had the van a couple weeks so can't comment much but it turned up on time as promised and all looking and working well.
Beautiful to drive, just like a car. Went for a LWB again but this new model is noticeably 100mm longer again.

Not being a petrol head I'm easily pleased, but I'm impressed so far. MPG seams good, drives well, I have it on Eco all the time and use cruise control on duel carriage ways. I have the platinum silver colour and it looks great. A few of the other builders and roofers have van envy. So far so good.

The Vivaro is a very good van and a pleasure to use. My van has a limiter on it which beeps over 70mph, it is being addressed as we speak but I would recommend checking that none of the rest have it as I can imagine having a lot of call backs if this is the case.

It's early days, but on first impression it's very good. It's taken a while for me to get my head around leasing a vehicle, but i'm glad I made the decision to go down this route. I chose this van for its size as i'm a carpenter, at the moment, it fulfils my needs.

Generally quite pleased with vehicle, just let me down once, after only 2000 miles on clock with battery problems. Eventually, I found a Vauxhall dealership that would help me, they told me battery was fine. I'm not 100% certain the van will start in the mornings now winter is approaching.

This is the best van I've ever had. It drives like a car and is very comfortable. The driving position is just as good, if not better than the old model Vivaro that I had. It is very economical due to its 1.6 twin turbo engine. I would recommend this van to anybody.

This van is exactly how Vanarama said it would be! Great to drive with loads of power and performance but still giving superb MPG and a comfortable car like ride. Packed with all the essential features such as air con, parking sensors, cruise control, electric windows and Bluetooth connectivity. With colour coded bumpers and mirrors our business now has a great looking van and an essential tool in our marketing plan. We've only had this van for 4 months but already it has won us new business. A fantastic van-arama!

Very smooth, refined drive, amazing engine. I'm getting 40mpg so far and have only covered 500 miles, so expect this will improve further. Sat Nav, carpet mats, passenger airbags and alloys would be nice for this level of modern van - shame it hasn't got these. Good service from Vanarama, very happy, good ply lining. The Vivaro is the best value mid size van in the market place in my opinion. The BiTurbo engine is incredible.

I should have leased this van earlier. It has had a positive direct impact on the business, both in profit and image!
I was initially concerned that the 1.6 would be underpowered but has surprisingly more poke than our old Vivaro. It handles the weight we have to deal with too. Imagine a cut up double garage door on the side rack with a van full of tools and supplies!
I would also like to recommend Vanarama for the transaction. It went as smooth as can be.

An excellent vehicle. Absolutely love my van, it looks so professional in my business. Handles superbly and very comfortable. It has all the refinements of a car. Really pleased with Vanarama as well so courteous and professional.

The L2 Vivaro stood out from the crowd due to the extra load space through the bulk head. With good looks, practicality and great performance for the amount of load we carry, it really is a great van to own. The styling is spot on, and the Sportive model has all the modern day equipment as standard. Once ply-lined and racked out, it carries all the essentials to run a carpentry business, as well as the capability to carry materials, including 8x4 sheets with ease. The colour options on the Sportive really make the van stand out on the road, and it's really like driving a modern family car rather than a van. Alloys as standard, like on the old model, would have been nice. For the price, you can't really go wrong. So far, it's been a pleasure to own.

I've had this van for about a month now and it's easily the most comfortable and easy to drive van I've driven so far. The bluetooth connectivity and the DAB radio are major perks and the cargo/tool space is spacious and easy to use and customize. Motorways are less tiring with cruise control and overall it's built for comfort. A big thumbs up from me.

I had a VW transporter before but fancied a change. After looking at all the vans available, I chose the Vivaro for looks and I liked the fact I could get a 3M pipe inside with the neat little lift up flap under the passenger seat.

I’ve only had the van for 3 months, so hard to tell if it is reliable or not. Downsides are 1. Brakes are a bit spongy, 2. MPG isn't that great. 3. Inside the cab isn't really well thought out.
On the plus side 1. Very practical. 2. Ride quality is good. 3. Like creature comforts. 4. Good looking van. Overall I am very pleased with it so far.

I love it. I am a kitchen and bathroom installer and I need to carry a lot of kit. I seem to have space to spare with this long wheelbase layout! I've only had it a couple of weeks but it has made a huge difference to my working day. Although I have been an installer for 17 years it makes me feel much more professional.
I like the easy driving style, it's just like driving a good car really. Air con, electric everything, parking sensors, cruise control...what else could you want in a VAN! I'm getting over 40mpg driving locally, according to the comprehensive trip computer, so absolutely no complaints there. Very nimble even when fully loaded - brilliant!
Only downsides are the horrible digital speedometer and lack of temperature and oil pressure gauges. Radio graphics are also disappointingly basic. Can't imagine that the flimsy plastic fuel cap cover will last long either and I don't think it was a clever idea to make me open the passengers door every time I need to fill up with diesel. And it would be better if you could turn off the Autostop feature PERMANENTLY instead of having to disable it every time you start the vehicle.
But overall it was a superb choice and I look forward to driving to my jobs now!

I'm now two weeks in. Really happy with the van overall and the service provided by the guys at Vanarama. Really quick turnaround from initial placing of my order, to delivery!
I am an electrical contractor and my vans are key to my business so having smart, reliable vehicles capable of carrying all the equipment used on a day to day basis is very important. This Vivaro ticks all the boxes. Very practical in terms of load carrying in the back and storage in the cab. Loads of cubby-holes.
It's a very nice spec with everything I need. Bluetooth allows me to answer the phone while on the move, cruise control for the longer journeys. The cab feels more like a nice car than a van! The 1.6 BiTurbo engine is very impressive. Smooth and very quiet. Plenty of power even when loaded - shows up the equivalent Ford model! No problems climbing and motorways are a breeze. MPG is pretty good when driven fairly conservatively, but be warned, it is easy to get carried away where the engine pulls so nicely!
Overall, the package is excellent and I would definitely have another based on my experience so far!

The van looks fantastic especially in Black. It shouts professionalism when you turn up at a client’s property. I am a builder specialising in extensions and refurbs, new kitchens and bathrooms all top end quality homes. I was concerned that a 1.6 was not going to have enough power despite the horsepower figures. I was wrong it has muscle and refinement is smooth and so quiet in the cab, it’s like being in a modern car. I have had the van for about 6 months now and it’s a real pleasure to own and drive. The load through hatch is great and saves leaving the rear door open for gear to get wet.
We drive locally every day about 50 miles and a few times per month to London, which is about 300 miles there and back. It’s a dream and eats the miles. The fuel consumption really needs to be seen to be believed it uses so little even at speed and with a load on. The built in Bluetooth system to the stereo is great and my iPhone connects straight away and the handsfree clarity is great, never had anyone say I sound like I’m underwater etc. Just a note to say that the headlights are very good the daylight running lights look good but at night the main headlights really do work well. The centre seat is folded down and I use it as my desk, iPad on it and clipboard up it makes it so easy not to forget materials etc. as I just write it down and it’s in my face all the time which is great if you’re busy and forgetful. A great van. Only problem I have had is the service due light coming on prematurely, but my local Vauxhall swapped the binnacle over and hey presto all is well. PS the cruise control is a real nice feature when on the motorway. GET ONE YOU WILL LOVE IT!!

I use my van for my heating and plumbing business and have had the van for a month now. The van is the lwb version as I needed to get full lengths of pipe and my ladders inside so no roof rack. The van is averaging 39 mpg considering the van is always full that is very good. Would recommend van to anybody as well as the service from Vanarama first class.

After having larger vans in the past, I went for something a little bit smaller as I'd taken on a bit more work where I needed to access underground car parks and this van does the job due to the height of the vehicle. The long wheel base is perfect for storing tools and materials, it drives like a dream and is also very reliable.

leased a van 2 months ago. I am very pleased with it, great drive, looks like a car inside and it has all the mod cons. Cheap to run saves me at least £70 pounds per month on fuel. All in all very happy.

Vehicle replaced ten year old van for my carpenters use. They travel 35 miles to get into work and work around north London so need a van that is comfortable and reliable. The Vauxhall Vivaro is a great edition to our company fleet.

We use our van for driving to work and back, we have had the van approx. 8 weeks, very comfortable and drives great compared to our old Vivaro although we have one problem the space between the gear stick and the passenger seat is smaller and also if you put anything on the passenger seat it slips off and goes between the seats. Would like it to have sat nav.

This van is used for our fire protection engineer to attend sites all over the UK. It is large enough to transport the tools and consumables we need to carry out our works efficiently.
In the 4 weeks we have had the van we have not experienced any problems. We have found it to be comfortable and economical with fuel consumption.
Our engineer finds the Vivaro to be comfortable to drive which helps keep him happier on the road. At this stage we do not have anything negative to review and overall are extremely pleased with our choice.

It's early days yet, but I am glad I traded my old Transit in for this new van with all the extras blue tooth, air con, reversing sensors, cruise control and much more. I am pleased with the pulling power of this 1.6 bi turbo 120 PS version Vivaro sportive van.

Really nice van. Drives & handles like a car. I was a bit dubious of how well the 1.6 diesel would do, but the BIturbo 120 makes my old VW T5 2.5 TDI seem like a dinosaur. The only downside is that the sat nav and alloys are extras, even on the Sportive, yet come as standard on the Renault Traffic version. Other than that, a lovely van all round.

I have only had the van for a week but am very impressed so far. The styling is great and the extras in the Sportive add to its appeal. It looks like I should get 600 miles to a tank of fuel which is significantly better than my previous Vivaro.

I have only had the van for a few hours, but up to now I am very pleased. The van looks amazing. The cab is really stylish and seating is very comfortable.The van drives very well and is very responsive. As for reliability and running costs, it is too early for me to tell.

Too early to judge reliability, but this van is a real pleasure to drive. Last van was an 07 plate and the gulf in comfort and quality between the two is massive. The front cab looks and feels like a top quality car. I'm a bit gutted to have to install the seat covers. The rest of the van looks good too. I took it on the motorway and the engine performance was great. Really pleased.

Good all rounder, that drives like a car. It's a little under powered for steep hills and overtaking when in ECO and a little more space in the cab for a 3rd person would be better. The seat belt could do with being a little longer for larger people.

I had previously owned a Vivaro, so I was expecting the same or better and I got much better. Drives like a good quality car and everything is at hand for the driver. Only had it one day so I cannot give it 5 stars on all points, as a lot of them will take time to determine the ratings. But over all, a fabulous looking van with everything I need to make my business and working day a pleasure. Would certainly recommend one to others.

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